Transport roundup: New Go-Ahead route in Dublin, name change for Belfast Central

This week’s transport roundup looks at the new Go-Ahead route in Dublin, Exact Change, a new Glider service in Belfast and a name change for Belfast Central.

Go-Ahead Ireland route

Go-Ahead Ireland has launched their first bus route, the 175, running from UCD to Citywest.

This 24 km route, will pick passengers up from 65 stops (from UCD to Citywest), 63 stops (from Citywest to UCD) and will be serviced by a fleet of 9 buses and 19 Go-Ahead Ireland drivers.

What’s the same?• All fares including cash, Leap Card, annual tickets and taxsaver are the same • Leap Card and Free Travel Pass accepted across all services • Fleet of mainly double-deck buses with some single-deck buses where necessary, across the network • TFI Journey Planner on web and app will include all services • TFI Real Time passenger information on web and app will include all services • All vehicles fully accessible for wheelchair users

What’s different?

Go-Ahead Ireland vehicles and Dublin Bus vehicles will operate with their own colour scheme, although both will be similar at the front which is yellow in both cases.

Inside the bus, the seats will be a different colour (click here for picture), although poles are yellow in both Go-Ahead Ireland vehicles and Dublin Bus vehicles.

Bus stop poles and information carousels will look different depending on the operator.

According to the The National Transport Authority over the coming months as Go Ahead Ireland begins operation of their routes, customers will notice new bus stops being installed. This will be done in advance of the switch over and they will have stages, routes and timetables clearly marked on them.

What is changing on all bus services in Dublin?

Dublin Bus (Pic: Inside Ireland.ie)

The NTA said that one of the ‘key objectives’ of the BusConnects programme for Dublin city bus services is to remove cash from the buses.

The next step in this NTA programme which is being introduced from 9th September on Go-Ahead operated services and 10th September on Dublin Bus operated services is that Exact Change is being encouraged for Cash Fare payments. If you tender more cash than the cash fare requires, you will receive a receipt to show that payment however that change will no longer be recoverable from operators.

The additional cash will be retained by the NTA and Dublin Bus and a proportion of those funds will be used for charitable purposes with the remaining proportion funding improvements to public transport services for all.

New Glider Service launched in Belfast

The CBI in Northern Ireland said it was delighted to welcome the commencement of the new Translink Glider service in Belfast.

Chris Conway, Translink Group Chief Executive, said

“Glider is the new face of public transport in Belfast. The Eco Hybrid vehicles will help improve air quality in the city and can each carry up to 105 passengers, offering convenient features like free Wi-Fi and USB charging facilities. The new off-board ticketing system will facilitate faster journeys and offer the same excellent value tickets as Metro.”

Glider Bus in Belfast (Pic: Inside Ireland.ie)

Translink said Glider offers a ‘modern, high-capacity and high-frequency rapid transit service which integrates into the existing Translink bus and rail network’. It also marks off-board ticketing for buses, which it says is a first for Northern Ireland.

There were issues with paying by the App, which Translink said would be resolved, and also some customers complained of buses being crowded, but generally, Translink was happy with the first week of roll-out.

For more information on Glider visit www.translink.co.uk/gliderbelfast/ and follow @Translink_NI #GliderBelfast.

TD: ‘ Zero tolerance approach must be taken to combat incidents of anti-social behaviour on Dublin’s public transport services’

Fianna Fáil Spokesperson for Dublin, John Lahart said repeated incidents of anti-social behaviour on a number of Dublin Bus services serving the Capital are ‘causing severe disruption for passengers and commuters’.

“Fianna Fáil has proposed the establishment of a Dublin Transport Police unit which will be responsible for enforcing the law on all public transport services in Dublin. The powers of the transport police will reflect the powers of An Garda Síochána with specific limits as to jurisdiction.”

The Deputy called for a ‘ zero tolerance approach’ to be taken to ‘target the culprits of anti-social behaviour and deter these incidents from persistently occurring’ on the Capital’s public transport services.’

Central Station is no more

Commuters from Dublin Connolly to Belfast are used to getting out at Belfast Central,

Formerly known as Belfast Central, the £1 million project, which commenced earlier this year, has seen the station frontage transformed.

Belfast Central Station is now Lanyon place (Pic: Inside Ireland.ie)

The Lanyon Place name is taken from the surrounding ‘Lanyon’ area, which is itself named for noted Victorian Architect Sir Charles Lanyon. Translink said this ‘better reflects the station’s location at the heart of the bustling Lanyon Place’.

Chris Conway, Translink Group Chief Executive, said:

‘‘Over 2.8 million passengers used the station last year, and we’re confident that our proximity to the Lanyon Place development will help us encourage more passengers to travel by rail. The investment in Lanyon Place Station is another milestone in delivering Translink’s vision to be your first choice for travel in Northern Ireland while also helping to boost the ongoing regeneration and development of the local area”.

Inside Ireland

Inside Ireland is a not-for-profit news outlet covering local stories
affecting communities in Ireland. Its contributors come from all over Ireland and
are hobbyist and professional journalists, chronicling stories from all
four corners of the island.